Country Love: Xie Dajiao, 37, is pregnant!

Chen Yannan was stunned for several seconds, then sighed and said:

"It's alright, Yongqiang. I understand. I've seen the difficulties the orchard is facing. I don't blame you."

He spoke reasonably, but his mind was in complete turmoil.

She wasn't reluctant to give up the job; she was reluctant to give up the opportunity to stay by Lin Chen's side.

The two of them had finally managed to break the ice and had just started... no, just started to develop feelings for each other. If they were to part ways now, all those secret feelings would be completely gone.

Xie Yongqiang felt bad about it and quickly added:

"Yannan, I'll pay you your salary until the end of this month, and I'll give you an extra half month's salary as a small token of my appreciation. If you're willing to come back and help me again when the orchard recovers and we have more funds, please do so."

"No need for Yongqiang, what's the point of getting subsidies? You're having a tough time too. I don't want your salary anymore, and the town has already given us a lot of subsidies for going to the countryside."

"That won't do, Yan Nan. It has to be as much as you ask for."

Chen Yannan shook her head gently, said nothing more, and silently began to pack her things.

Several professional books, thick work notes, and miscellaneous personal belongings were stuffed into the bag one by one.

She moved slowly, still thinking about how to stay in the village.

She considered asking Lin Chen for help, but then she suppressed the thought.

Their relationship was never meant to be public. She had only been close to someone for a few days, and now she was begging for a job in a sorry state. It was too low-class for her, and she was also afraid of causing trouble for Lin Chen.

Torn between conflicting emotions, she could only silently pack her bags and prepare to leave.

At noon, the air conditioning was on in Lin Chen's villa, making the house exceptionally comfortable. On the dining table was a plate of freshly washed green grapes, looking very juicy.

When Chen Yannan returned to the villa, she was listless. Her eyes were red when she entered the door, and she was carrying a half-bag of packed luggage. Her mood was at its lowest point.

Lin Chen was exercising in the room when he looked up and saw her like this. He quickly stopped and took a towel to wipe the sweat off his body.

Chen Yannan slowly sat down on the sofa, her head down, picking at her fingers in a low voice:

"Brother Chen, I have something to tell you. The reservoir has dried up, and Yongqiang's irrigation canal has also stopped construction. The orchard can't hold on any longer, and I might have to leave Ivory Mountain in a couple of days."

As she spoke, her nose tingled, and she quickly lowered her head, afraid that her tears would fall and be seen.

She threw herself into Lin Chen's arms:

"I just can't bear to leave you. I want to stay in the village and stay by your side forever."

Lin Chen reached out and gently patted her back, comforting her:

"Don't worry, it's nothing serious. Don't rush to pack your things, and don't take it to heart. I have a solution. Go back to your room and rest. I'll make a call."

He spoke so casually, as if it were a trivial matter, instantly calming Chen Yannan's panic.

She looked up at him, her eyes glistening with tears, and not just in her eyes, but also in her eyes, and nodded gently.

Watching her go upstairs, Lin Chen got up, walked into the yard, took out his phone, and called Liu Da Nao directly.

"Assistant Liu, I need to arrange something for you."

Liu Da Nao immediately stood up and said:

"Wait a minute, wait a minute, let me write this down!"

After searching for a long time without finding paper and pen, Liu Da Nao whispered to Accountant Xu for some, and Accountant Xu quickly searched around.

Lin Chen didn't have that much patience and said directly:

"No need for that complicated process, it's very simple. Xie Yongqiang's orchard is laying off staff. The previous technician, Chen Yannan, is a student from the Forestry University, so her skills are definitely not a problem. Next, we need to inspect the back mountain, and we just happen to need someone knowledgeable to go to the site with us and provide technical support."

"What I mean is, in the name of the Wang Group's inspection and preparation team, we should specially hire her as an agricultural technician to assist the Wang Group's inspection and, incidentally, to be responsible for the village's technical guidance."

Upon hearing that it was Lin Chen who arranged it, Liu Da Nao immediately responded obsequiously:

"No problem! The chairman has given instructions that you're in charge of everything! I'll immediately go through the procedures and get the budget approved by the company, ensuring everything is arranged perfectly!"

"No need to use the group's funds."

Lin Chen interrupted him directly:

"I will personally pay her salary, according to the standard for specially hired agricultural technicians in the village. I will transfer the money to you in advance every month, and you can pay her monthly salary normally from the group's inspection subsidy account. Make sure to complete all the procedures and do them properly."

"The official line is that the technical personnel are specially hired by the group to support investment projects, and the villages and towns report according to this statement."

Liu Da Nao, being a shrewd man, instantly understood the trick and immediately patted his chest to guarantee it:

"Understood! Completely understood! Don't worry, brother, I'm very tight-lipped. I won't say a word out of turn. The contract and approval form are exactly the same as those used in the group's regular recruitment."

"Is Uncle Changgui with you?"

"No, Changgui went home to cook and told me to come to his house for lunch."

"Okay, I understand."

……

Lin Chen strolled over to Chang Gui's house. Chang Gui was shirtless, wearing an apron, and cooking. Wang Yun was at the Big Foot Supermarket, so he had to come by himself.

"Oh, Xiao Chen, you've come at the perfect time! Have lunch here," Chang Gui greeted him warmly.

Lin Chen smiled and waved his hand:

"Oh no, I have things to do when I get back."

Chang Gui served the dishes on the table, wiped his hands with his apron, and took out a cigarette to offer to Lin Chen.

"Xiao Chen, did you need something?"

"Uncle Changgui, let me tell you something important. The Wang Group is planning to focus on investigating our village's ecological agriculture and forestry projects. To make these projects successful, we need skilled professionals. I recommend Chen Yannan, a college student. She's a qualified college graduate with excellent technical skills, and she'll be a perfect fit."

"The group has finalized the deal. They've specially hired her as a village-level agricultural technician to assist with project inspections. If she's willing, she can also provide guidance to our village. The village won't have to pay a penny. She'll be affiliated with the village committee and will be considered a technical talent brought in through our investment promotion efforts. You just need to register with the village committee and report it to the town this afternoon."

Upon hearing this, Chang Gui burst into laughter and pulled Lin Chen to sit down on the wooden chair.

"Oh my god, this is great news! No wonder they said you had to be the deputy director! We've got a highly educated technical talent for free, the village doesn't have to spend any money, and it can even help with investment attraction. Where else can you find such a good deal? Okay! I'll decide on this right away and report it to the town this afternoon!"

Chang Gui thought for a moment, then picked up the phone and said:

"Uncle Changgui, there's no need to be in such a hurry."

Chang Gui waved his hand:

"Xiao Chen, you don't know, Mayor Qi has been urging us every day to attract investment, talent, and upgrade our industries. This matter aligns perfectly with the policy, so he'll definitely agree!"

The town government approved it that afternoon.

Qi Santai called Chang Gui back, his tone full of praise:

"Changgui, your village has done a fantastic job! This is how you attract investment: companies provide funding and resources, the village cooperates to get things done, and you add professional talent—that's how projects stay stable. Chen Yannan is a college graduate with a relevant degree; she's the most capable person in this group. She can genuinely help the village develop, and she deserves praise!"

……

In the villa's guest room, Chen Yannan stared blankly at her packed suitcase, feeling utterly dejected, already prepared to leave.

Just as she was filled with melancholy, Lin Chen called from downstairs:

"Yannan, come down here for a moment, Uncle Changgui is here!"

Chen Yannan was taken aback, then quickly went downstairs. Chang Gui saw her and greeted her with a beaming smile:

"Yannan, you're home! Great news!"

Chen Yannan looked up at him, her face blank:

"Uncle Changgui, what brings you here?"

Chang Gui handed her the notification letter and smiled:

"The village has partnered with the Wang Group for investment promotion, and you've been specially appointed as the village-level agricultural technical specialist, affiliated with the village committee. Your role will be to assist the group with project inspections and, incidentally, provide guidance on planting throughout the village!"

"The salary is paid by the group. It's a legitimate investment promotion position. Mayor Qi of the town personally approved it. It's a formal talent introduction program. You can stay here as long as it's a talent dormitory arranged by the village. If you don't want to stay here, I'll arrange another place for you."

Chen Yannan stood there stunned for several seconds, looking at the notice over and over again.

The official seals and procedures are complete on paper, unlike a hastily cobbled-together empty name.

She asked incredulously in a low voice:

"Uncle Changgui, is this true? Can I really stay in the village?"

"Of course it's true! Would your uncle lie to you?"

Chang Gui smiled and waved his hand:

"This is a legitimate position, it's been registered with the town. Work hard, and your future will be bright! I reckon that after you leave here, you'll at least be working in the county forestry bureau."

Holding the notification letter, Chen Yannan finally felt a weight lifted from her chest after a whole day.

She subconsciously looked towards the kitchen, where Lin Chen was washing fruit. She vaguely understood that this sudden good thing was definitely due to Lin Chen's secret help.

She didn't know how he got the connections or how he completed the formalities; all she knew was that she no longer had to leave and could stay by his side.